Norfolk charity Break makes foster care appeal

A Sheringham-based charity that provides help and support for vulnerable youngsters and their families is set to start a new fostering service.

Break has set up a new team in Norwich to cover a Norfolk-based service, and will be launching an appeal on Monday for foster carers as well as offering a 24-hour support phoneline.

Coming under the banner of therapeutic fostering, the service will be for those aged between 10 and 18 years old, is hoping to attract 12 such carers in the first year and is focused on building an enduring relationship between carer and youngster.

Graeme Malcolm is an operations manager at Break. He said: 'There has been a lot of money spent on young people placed in residential care outside of the county and we are trying to offer local placements to children to stop them having to leave the area so they can stay close to friends, families and schools.'

Mr Malcolm added that the role of foster carer would be a paid one, with fortnightly professional supervision from a qualified social worker and regular short breaks available.

'We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds but they will need some experience of working and living with young people. 'The things that we are looking for will be commitment to the young person through the hard times and an ability to understand the young person's point of view. They also need to be reflective about their own performance and behaviour.'

The focus was also on ensuring vulnerable youngsters of a similar age were not placed together in foster care, he added.

The foster carers will be offered training by a learning and development team, including the Children's Workforce Development Council level three diploma.

To find out more about Break and the service, go to www.break-charity.org or call 01603 670110. Alternatively, email fostering@break-charity.org.